Christmas Highlights 2007

Our Christmas was fantastically merry. We had a wonderful visit with Nonna and Papa to begin with... We all went wild with anticipation and preparation on Christmas Eve.... and we had quite the toyland in our living room Christmas morning. Best of all, Andy was home and we were all together.

Here are our highlights and some Thank You photos. :)


The tree


Papa and his girls


Nonna getting some exercise


Abbie is a good walking companion these days


The nightly reading ritual


Quite the gift-basket, eh?




A note to St. Nick


Milk and cookies too! (And carrots for the reindeer!)




Our precious gift





Carolyn checks out her St. Nicholas gift. She's thrilled!!!


Abbie liked hers too


Even a Dora apron to use with the kitchen (Thanks, Becca!)


Yummy bugs!! (Thanks, Gramma K and Papa Mike!)


Whhhoooooshhhhh! (Thanks, Jenn!)


Pretty, Pretty Princesses (Thanks, Aunt Sharon and Uncle Jerry!)


Hehehe


Abbie loves the rocking moose! (Thanks, Aunt K!)



Carolyn and Stockdale do too.

Of Cribs and Kittens

What happens when Carolyn goes to check on Abbie before I do after naptime



Ok... Isn't she just too adorable???



And her too!!!!



Introducing the newest member of the R family: Stockdale



Chester trying to decide what he thinks of the new little guy.

Yeah. I know. I'm insane. What can I say.... I needed a kitten!

Crib Moments

Yeah.... I'm a picture posting fool, but my kids are just so cute I can't help it. You don't have to look if you don't like it, ok!

What is Christmas with NOOOO Snow???

No White Christmas with nooo snooow.... (Yeah, I'm watching the movie, right now)

I woke up in a lousy mood this morning, but God wrote the weather report just for me to turn it all around.



Carolyn watching the flakes fall



Abbie's first experience actually IN the snow--dressed up like the kid from A Christmas Story.



My little eskimo

Abbie and Solids

We're starting to gradually introduce solids to Abbie. As interested as she is in the equipment (she loves spoons and plates and bowls), she isn't at all interested in the food.



First taste... Hmmm...



How do you people EAT this stuff?!



No seriously, yuck!!!!



Carolyn the explorer lends a hand.

But seriously--we knew one of them had to take after her mother when it came to food.

My beautiful girls

One of my favorite photos from a day when I was just fooling around with the camera.

Christmas Parade

We drove south on the island to Coupeville, one of our favorite little hamlets, for their Christmas parade. Our very favorite ice cream shop was closing for the season and gave out free ice cream to everyone. Ironically, it was the coldest day of the year, so far. The upside being, of course, that the ice cream didn't melt.

The parade was fun and even had a marching band (parades around here don't always). They played "Smoke on the Water" instead of Christmas tunes, but you know... You gotta take what you can get!

Anyway... The highlights:

Why I Love Christmas With Kids....

Personality All Over the Place!

Abbie, our zen little Buddha Baby, is starting to go places.







That's right... She's crawling. As if THAT'S not enough, at six and a half months old she's already pulling up. I'm a little panicked. I think I'm in trouble. I live in fear of having an early walker (though of course I will celebrate joyfully no matter WHEN she walks).



She will too.



Then there's Carolyn... Her personality is exploding!!!



She has such a vast imagination. Dragons, and funny guys under her bed who tickle her toes, and pet mice, and puppies, and kitties.... We've had to start utilizing monster spray to take care of some of these at bedtime... But they're always back in friendlier form again in the morning.

In fact, she's in her room right now playing pretend... Talking up a storm... Even though she's supposed to be napping. *sigh*



Yep, both my girls have quite a bit of personality.

Bundled Beach Time